Album Review: Barns Courtney – The Attractions of Youth

It’s been a long road for Barnaby “Barns” Courtney. His debut LP The Attractions of Youth finally arrives via Virgin EMI Records; roughly two years since releasing his first single “Glitter and Gold.” Hailing from Ipswich, England, this brash and explosive chap presents us with 13 tracks – 14, if you include the interlude – over 44-minutes of balanced bangers designed to please the vast variety of alt-rock palates.

Over the last year, this 26-year-old Englishman has carried a reputation for reckless abandon on the live circuit; from jamming on his Martin & Co. guitar with such force that his fingers end up bloodied to earning himself a shattered foot after a frenzied stage dive at this year’s Summerfest. Barns Courtney is a force to be reckoned with, and his freshman effort undoubtedly enforces that sentiment. The Attractions of Youth sees Barns Courtney achieve a pulchritudinous balance to his sound. Punchy genre-bending stylings catchy enough to reel in the radio-rock fan-base fused to a brazenfaced and unapologetic delivery of youthful foolhardiness even the harshest of rock purists can dig.

Other notables include the dialed-back duo of “Goodbye John Smith” and album-closer “The Attractions of Youth,” which showcase the musical sensibilities and song-writing prowess of this rising star. On the other hand, the mid-tempo and folksy “Hobo Rocket” is a wincing whiff better forgotten. Barnes inexplicably drops his power-vocals in place of amateurishly shrieking raps. In a word, no … simply, no.

While The Attractions of Youth serves up 14 jams, mostly noteworthy, the addition of Barns’ older work is hyperbole. In a perfect world, Courtney’s glorious bygone hits like “Fire” and “Hands” would have stayed in the past. A leaner track-list of unheard material would have positively impacted the album; after all, The Dull Drums EP was released just earlier this year.

Alas, some of you might know who Barns Courtney was before his debut full-length offering, some of you just got introduced to him. Regardless, soon enough everyone will know his name. Courtney’s infectious persona is shimmery and flashy, while his boisterous tone is musically auriferous … sort of like, glitter & gold.

Born and raised in Queens, New York and now living in Atlanta with my wife and 3 rescue dogs. I have a passion for travel, concert photography, and discovering new music. I hope you enjoy my perspective of the vibrant Atlanta music scene.

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